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IMDbPro

From the Earth to the Moon

  • 19581958
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
24,636
7,204
From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
In 1868, American inventor Victor Barbicane develops a powerful military explosive that he also uses as fuel for a moon-bound rocket manned by himself and a motley crew.
Play trailer1:33
1 Video
12 Photos
AdventureFantasySci-Fi
In 1868, American inventor Victor Barbicane develops a powerful military explosive that he also uses as fuel for a moon-bound rocket manned by himself and a motley crew.In 1868, American inventor Victor Barbicane develops a powerful military explosive that he also uses as fuel for a moon-bound rocket manned by himself and a motley crew.In 1868, American inventor Victor Barbicane develops a powerful military explosive that he also uses as fuel for a moon-bound rocket manned by himself and a motley crew.
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
24,636
7,204
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Byron Haskin
    • Writers
      • Jules Verne(novels "De la Terre à la Lune" and "Autour de la Lune")
      • Robert Blees(screenplay)
      • James Leicester(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Joseph Cotten
      • George Sanders
      • Debra Paget
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Byron Haskin
    • Writers
      • Jules Verne(novels "De la Terre à la Lune" and "Autour de la Lune")
      • Robert Blees(screenplay)
      • James Leicester(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Joseph Cotten
      • George Sanders
      • Debra Paget
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    Official Trailer

    Photos12

    From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    George Sanders and Debra Paget in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    Joseph Cotten, George Sanders, Don Dubbins, and Debra Paget in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    Joseph Cotten and Debra Paget in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    Joseph Cotten, George Sanders, Don Dubbins, and Debra Paget in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    George Sanders and Debra Paget in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    Don Dubbins and Debra Paget in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)
    Joseph Cotten and George Sanders in From the Earth to the Moon (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joseph Cotten
    Joseph Cotten
    • Victor Barbicane
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Stuyvesant Nicholl
    Debra Paget
    Debra Paget
    • Virginia Nicholl
    Don Dubbins
    Don Dubbins
    • Ben Sharpe
    Patric Knowles
    Patric Knowles
    • Josef Cartier
    Carl Esmond
    Carl Esmond
    • Jules Verne
    Henry Daniell
    Henry Daniell
    • Morgana
    Melville Cooper
    Melville Cooper
    • Bancroft
    Ludwig Stössel
    Ludwig Stössel
    • Aldo Von Metz
    • (as Ludwig Stossel)
    Morris Ankrum
    Morris Ankrum
    • President Ulysses S. Grant
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Clarke
    Robert Clarke
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Les Tremayne
    Les Tremayne
    • Countdown Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Byron Haskin
    • Writers
      • Jules Verne(novels "De la Terre à la Lune" and "Autour de la Lune")
      • Robert Blees(screenplay)
      • James Leicester(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Among the last-minute cost-cutting measures inflicted upon this film was the elimination of all scenes taking place on the moon.
    • Goofs
      Despite dire warnings of death should occupants of the projectile NOT be in the "acceleration tubes" upon launch, no explanation is offered as to why Virginia isn't turned to goo by stowing away in another room.
    • Quotes

      Morgana: You know, whenever I see you, I get the feeling that Barbicane is up to no good.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are on the pages of a book, with the leads' photos included above the name.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Back to the Future Part III (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Electronic Tonalities
      (uncredited)

      from Forbidden Planet (1956)

      composed by Bebe Barron and Louis Barron

      heard during the scenes on board the rocket

    User reviews47

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    A Cast At the End of Their Useful Careers
    This 1959 movie adaptation of Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon" is the graveyard of declining actors. Joseph Cotton and George Sanders were at the end of fairly successful film careers and about to be relegated to guest appearances on a variety of television shows; the most notable being Sander's Mr. Freeze on "Batman". Debra Paget was in her late twenties; she had lost her glow and was used up by Hollywood standards. The change to an unflattering "strawberry" blonde look exacerbated the problem as few actresses have ever been less suited to a light hair color.

    On the plus side, the movie itself is a fairly accurate adaptation of Verne's story; at least the book's illustrations appear to have been used as models for the rocket and the cannon. Verne's 19th century take on space travel turned out to be more accurate than most of the speculation during the first half of the 20th century.

    The adaptation's biggest problem was altering Verne's story by inserting a topical theme about the post WWII arms race. In Verne's 1865 novel, the Baltimore Gun Club itself set about building a rocket to go to the Moon. In the adaptation a munitions manufacturer (think "Destination Moon") concocts the scheme to demonstrate his powerful new explosive. With a lot of discussion about science, weapons, and peace the movie dances around the subject extensively yet never makes a coherent point about its position (regarding the nuclear arms race), as if simply inserting the theme is somehow sufficient.

    The movie is a cross between "Destination Moon" and "Rocketship X-M", combining the former's good science and bad political message with the latter's dismal sets and comical special effects. The acting in all three films is equally sad.

    The premise has munitions manufacturer Victor Barbicane (Cotton) discovering an explosive (Power X) capable of firing a shell-like projectile to the moon. His plan is opposed for philosophical/religious reasons by Stuyvesant Nicholl (Sanders), another manufacturer. Although these philosophical differences play an important part in the story, they are never convincingly elaborated on, which undermines the basic storyline.

    President Grant orders Barbicane to abandon the project because it is considered an act of war by other nations. While this is unconvincing it does serve as Barbicane's inspiration to change the project to a manned space flight. Nicholl then agrees to manufacture the ceramic coating needed for re-entry and to accompany Barbicane on a flight to the moon. Paget plays Nicholl's daughter who hides inside the rocket just prior to take-off.

    "From the Earth to the Moon" is often confused with "First Men in the Moon" which was made five years later. Probably because both are set in the 19th century and both feature a female stowaway (played by Martha Hyer in the later film). "First Men in the Moon" (while not a great film) is superior in virtually every detail to "From the Earth to the Moon". Rather ironically it was adapted from a story by "H.G. Wells", an early science fiction writer often compared to Verne.

    Movie adaptations of Verne's books were a big thing in the 1950's and early 1960's. Among the good ones were "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), "Journey to the Center of the Earth"(1959), "Mysterious Island" (1961), and "Master of the World" (1961). Unfortunately "From the Earth to the Moon" is simply not in the same league as these examples.

    Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
    helpful•25
    16
    • aimless-46
    • May 15, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 1964 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Von der Erde zum Mond
    • Filming locations
      • Estudios Churubusco - C. Atletas 2, Country Club Churubusco, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Benedict Bogeaus Production
      • RKO Radio Pictures
      • Waverly Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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